The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to postpone the implementation of state police until after the 2027 general election, warning that the new security structure could be exploited for political purposes.
In a statement released on Friday, Obi described the passage of the State Police Bill by the National Assembly as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to tackle its persistent security challenges. However, he expressed concern that the process leading to the bill’s passage lacked transparency and meaningful public participation.
Obi Questions Legislative Process
According to Obi, Nigeria’s highly centralised policing system has long been considered inadequate for a country as large and diverse as Nigeria. He noted that security experts, regional leaders, and other stakeholders have consistently advocated for the establishment of state police.
While welcoming the concept, Obi argued that the implementation framework remains weak and raises serious concerns about possible political abuse.
“The process should involve greater community participation. Policing should be more visible at the local government and community levels,” he said.
He also criticised the National Assembly for allegedly passing the legislation without conducting a public hearing on what he described as a matter of national importance.
“The rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures fuels suspicion among many observers about the political motives behind it,” Obi stated.
Warns Against Political Misuse
The former Anambra State governor expressed fears that state governors could use state police to intimidate political opponents, suppress opposition activities, and influence election outcomes.
To prevent such abuse, Obi proposed the creation of independent oversight bodies, including state-level Police Service Commissions that would operate free from executive interference.
He further questioned whether the current administration could resist the temptation to use state policing arrangements to its political advantage ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Going by what Nigerians have seen so far, there is no guarantee that this administration can resist the temptation to take advantage of state policing to influence the 2027 general election by proxy,” he said.
Calls for Postponement Until After 2027
Based on these concerns, Obi urged President Tinubu and other relevant authorities to suspend the implementation of state police until after the 2027 general election.
According to him, delaying the rollout would help preserve public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process and prevent any perception that the new security structure is being introduced for electoral advantage.
He concluded his statement with his familiar slogan:
“A New Nigeria is POssible.”
